How to Do Dissolves in PowerPoint

by Tielle Webb, Demand Media

Transition effects can help keep your audience engaged.

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PowerPoint's animation and slide transition features allow you to animate entire slides or single images in a variety of manners. You can use these tools to make a slide appear to dissolve into the next slide or a picture seem to dissolve into a second graphic. To use this eye-catching feature, you must learn where to find the required effects. Choosing the right effect depends on whether you want to dissolve a picture or a slide.

Dissolve One Image Into Another

Step 1

Start PowerPoint, open the presentation and select the slide on which you want to add the effect. Insert the image you want to appear second. Select the "Insert" tab and choose "Picture" in the Images group. Find the picture you want to add and select "Insert."

Step 2

Insert the photo you want to appear first on top of the second image. Select the "Insert" tab and choose "Picture" in the Images group. Find the picture you want to add and select "Insert." Drag the front image slightly to one side so that you can still access the picture in back.

Make sure the front picture is selected. Select the "Animations" tab and click "Add Animation" in the Advanced Animation group. Choose "Exit Effects," select "Fade" in the Subtle group and click "OK."

Step 4

Click "Animation Pane" in the Advanced Animation group. Click the drop-down arrow next to the effect and select "Effect Options." Select the "Timing" tab. Choose "After Previous" in the Start box and "Medium" in the Duration box. Click "OK."

Step 5

Move the front image so that it is directly on top of the back image. Preview the effect. Select the "Slide Show" tab and click "From Current Slide" in the Start Slide Show group. Save the presentation when you are finished.

Dissolve One Slide Into Another

Step 1

Start PowerPoint, open the presentation and select the slide to which you want to add the dissolving effect in the Thumbnail Pane.

Step 2

Select the "Transitions" tab and select "Fade" in the Transitions to This Slide group.

Step 3

Choose "Smoothly" in the Effect Options drop-down and select "2.5" or higher in the Duration box in the Timing group to make the slide appear to dissolve slowly.

Step 4

Select whether you want the slide to advance when you click the mouse or after a certain amount of time. Click "Apply to All" to add the transition to all of the slides in the presentation.

Step 5

Preview the effect. Select the "Slide Show" tab and click "From Current Slide" or "From the Beginning" in the Start Slide Show group. Save the presentation when you are finished.

Warning

Information in this article applies to PowerPoint 2013. It may vary slightly or significantly with other versions or products.

About the Author

Tielle Webb has been a writer and editor for more than a decade. Her work has appeared in local and national publications such as "The Dollar Stretcher," "Good News Tucson" and "Guideposts." Specializing in computer technology, Webb is certified in Microsoft Office applications.

Photo Credits

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